Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. Someone else does...and it's not me...yeah...bummer.

A/N

Wow! Over 100 reviews! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! /sparkles and throws cookies all over the place/

I'm not going to ramble about the chapter, but I am going to answer a few questions...uhm...remarks, that is.

Right, so:

reenas-as – I'm glad you liked it! Yeah, I was feeling creative.../grins/

DojomistressAmbyChan – Thank you! Ishizu wanted to get out to see for herself if Marik was indeed alive. After all, he's her brother and her only family. That's why she seemed so brave to you, I guess. The ghouly things (hah, I like the description!) didn't see the hole because it was still sealed (not all the way, though because the girls managed to push the rock a bit to let some air in) when they came and killed the two Jackals.

InsanityRoseSparkles – Thank you! About the childhood memories flashing before Bakura's eyes – well, he thought he was going to die then and it was proven that almost every person's life flashes in front of their eyes before they die for some reason...Don't know why, really myself.

TeaTwin - /grins/ Thank you!

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The Legend of the Three Souls

Chapter XXIII – Redemption

-by Alena S. Anigor


The underground chamber was shuddering and quaking slightly, making the dust fall from the ceiling. Maybe that was the main reason why Mai had a feeling like everything would tumble down soon and kill them all. She was looking nervously at the falling specks of dirt and mud, hunched down on the cold floor of the chamber. Tea and Serenity were staring outside anxiously, the hole still opened and the rock removed.

Serenity was shivering slightly, not knowing anymore whether she was shivering because of the chilly air breezing from outside or because she was frightened. She embraced herself, looking worriedly outside, not saying a word. She was worried about Ishizu, just like Tea was.

The brown haired girl was standing stiffly right under the hole, ignoring the dust and dirt falling around her. She was already covered with it enough to care about her appearance. Her eyes were wide open in anxiety and fear, as she was also trembling by Serenity's side. The ground as well as the ceiling of the chamber rocked and vibrated, causing them to wobble slightly in their spots. Still, she wondered why was Ishizu so adamant to go outside. What was so important that she was willing to risk her life to see...someone?

The ground shook and Serenity had to reach for the wall in one moment to keep herself on her feet. Mai yelped and would've landed on her face if she hadn't stretched her arms quickly enough to fall on them, palms and fingers digging into the brown surface.

"Damn it!" She spat and got up quickly, clapping with her palms to get rid of the dirt. She frowned and inspected her nails; they were definitely ruined now.

Tea grabbed the wall for support, leaning back and forth slightly when the whole chamber started to tremble, dirt falling down from the ceiling. It fell on her hair, crawling down her neck and ended inside of her shirt, making her growl. It was an unpleasant sensation. She tried to scratch it out but without success. The dirt already mixed with her wet clothes and skin and she almost growled, feeling it prickle and scrape her skin.

She quickly raised her head when she heard a rumbling sound coming from outside. It sounded like something was breaking and disintegrating above them before the loud thud was heard just above their heads, like something heavy fell over them. Mai took a few steps aside, eyeing the ceiling warily and trying to wobble her way to the girls. Serenity was still clutching the wall of the chamber tightly, afraid to let go.

Tea was eyeing the falling specks, noticing how the amount of dirt and mud started to increase and she realized that they would end up covered in dust soon. She had to come up with something and fast. She almost let out a shriek when something fell on her head suddenly and bounced off to land on the ground. She looked down, together with a shocked Serenity and a perplexed Mai. A little piece of rock rolled from outside and fell through the hole.

Mai's eyes widened and she quickly grabbed Tea by the shoulders after glancing at the ceiling once more.

"We have to get out of here!" She yelled at her and Tea was speechless for a moment, staring at her bewildered expression. Serenity was standing next to them, observing them fearfully without a word. "Tea!" Mai shook her violently and the girl snapped out of her stupor and glanced up through the hole.

She realized that Mai was right; the ceiling was collapsing with every tremble more and more and she knew that either way – they would end up buried under the ruins. They had no choice – either it would be the ceiling that would fall on them or the rocks that were starting to fall in the chamber from outside would shut the only exit they had and then they would have absolutely no chance to survive. With a terrified gleam in her eyes, she swallowed hard and looked into Mai's eyes.

The blond journalist observed her with something akin to anticipation. Serenity's eyes were traveling to and fro for a while, before she realized herself what was to do.

She stepped on one of the stairs, still clutching the wall tightly with her hands. She received two swift nods after she spoke in a trembling voice.

"We must leave this place."


The vision was starting to become blurry and fuzzy but Bakura was still trying to stay awake. The scene in front of him was too important to fall asleep right now. With a grunt, he tried to stand up but his hands refused to give him a boost up, and his body shook with failed attempts to rise. He had no more strength in his limbs and his head was spinning, making everything swirl in front of his eyes. After he tried to roll over onto his side and managed to fall on his back instead, he gave up. He stared at the dark sky dully for a second before the faint voices to his right made him turn his head to see what was going on.

There was that woman...the black haired one. What was her name? He couldn't remember. He wasn't even sure if he knew her name at all, his mind trying to regain at least some kind of equilibrium again. He blinked a few times to shake the haziness away and saw someone in a cloak kneeling on the sand not so far away from him. Now...who was that?

When he spotted a sandy haired young man, his eyes widened a bit and he let out a moan when he tried to get up again bit every bone in his body denied him that wish and he fell down again, white tresses spilled around his head in a messy heap.

That was Marik, his mind told him and he turned his head again to see the woman approaching him steadily. Through the haze, he thought he saw tears falling down her face when she stopped in front of him, fell down on her knees and hugged the boy tightly, rocking him back and forth. He didn't understand why she was hugging him, nor he heard a thing she said. Her lips were moving but all he could hear was a loud buzzing sound in his ears, as if someone whistled in them constantly. He let his eyes close and darkness engulfed him before his mind managed to create one, last coherent thought.

It's all right now...

Ishizu was crying openly, holding her brother tightly in her embrace. She couldn't believe that it was really him, standing there and fighting against Bakura. He looked different, yes, but it was still Marik, he was still her little brother no matter what. She couldn't leave him now, not when she finally found him again. He was shaking and shivering in her arms, his whole body trembling violently. When she released him a bit to see his face, she saw he was crying as well and she let out a sob, hugging him again and almost squeezing the life out of him.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, Ishizu..." he was mumbling constantly, his whole mind a blur. He didn't know what was going on. He couldn't remember how he got there, what he was doing there in the first place, but somehow, he knew he did something wrong, something terrible. A malevolent face flashed in his mind suddenly and he jerked violently, making Ishizu let him go again.

"Marik? Are you all right? Wha-what is wrong?" She asked him when she noticed the shocked and horrified look on his face. His lower lip trembled as violet eyes opened wide. He was looking her straight in the eye intensely but it was like his mind was wandering somewhere else, his eyes were clouded slightly. Ishizu watched him with great concern; afraid he might turn into that thing once again.

"Marik?" She whispered worriedly. Suddenly, he got up so quickly and forcefully that he made her fall back a bit. He raised a shaky hand in the air, staring at it fixatedly. Various emotions crossed his face, from shock and disbelief to anger, fury, guilt, remorse, and in the end – disgust.

Slowly, he turned around and looked at the white haired thief somberly who was lying on the sand peacefully with his eyes closed. His brows furrowed in anger for a moment when he saw in what condition he was. And he was the one who did all that to him. He lowered his hand slowly, and glanced at his sister who was watching him quietly from below, still sitting on the sand.

"I..." he started, his voice breaking and he didn't bother to clear his throat. Ishizu got up on her feet, taking a hesitant step forward, but he stopped her with a single motion of his hand. He was standing like that, staring absentmindedly at her before he lowered his hand and with a furious gleam in his eyes turned around to look for something.

Spotting the dagger that fell out of his hands when Ishizu grabbed him from behind, he made a few quick steps, bent down and grabbed it swiftly, swinging with it and cutting the air. Ishizu stared at him in confusion, not comprehending what he had in mind when he approached her suddenly and stopped in front of her. His eyes were glistening with something raw, narrowed dangerously in anger.

"M-Marik, wha-"

"Take Bakura," he told her, interrupting her from asking him what he had in mind. Turning around, he scanned the surroundings, searching for the sword Amukh gave him. He spotted it a few feet away, glistening slightly. He grabbed it as well and turned to look at her again. "Take him to a safe place. Tell the others with you to-"

"Marik, wait!" She cut in, making him stop, "What are you planning to do?"

He was gazing at her almost wistfully for a few moments before his eyes narrowed again and he looked at her with determination in her eyes. That made Ishizu gasp as she realized what he had in mind.

"No," She shook her head, already reaching with her hands to stop him from going away, "no, Marik, don't!" She pleaded, blue eyes filling with fresh tears again. He caught her by the wrists and pulled her hands away gently, shaking his own head.

"Ishizu," he spoke calmly and she turned her head away from him, tears falling down her cheeks freely, "I have to do this. I have to stop him," he ventured and she started to sob, closing her eyes and shaking her head in a vain attempt to make him think again. "I am the only one who knows how! Ishizu!" He yelled when she yanked her hands away from him angrily and looked at him desperately.

"I just...I just found you, Marik! I don't want to lose you again!" Every word was cried out hoarsely, her fists clenched by her sides. He was observing her with a grave expression, wanting to do something to comfort her, but he knew that there was nothing he could do or say. He leaned in and hugged her gently, making her sniffle and choke on a sob and she hugged him back tightly, wanting to keep it that way.

"I know where the busts are," he whispered in her ear calmly and she leaned back to look at him in disbelief. Wiping the tears off her cheeks, she stared at him in puzzlement. He nodded firmly and smiled at her. "I know about everything...I...remembered," the last word was laced with venom and he glanced up to look at her. Her eyes were shimmering with emotions and he stepped out of the embrace, leaving her hands to fall limply by her sides.

"I am going to make everything right, sister," he said in a serious tone and turning around, headed towards the curtain of sand and disappeared behind it, leaving Ishizu to raise a hand and stare after him in some kind of daze. She was standing stiffly like that for a few moments before she turned around and looked at the sleeping Bakura.

When she approached him slowly, she knelt down and put one arm around his back to get him up. She put that same hand around his neck and put one of his around her shoulder. She struggled with him for a while before she finally managed to get him up on his knees. She wasn't strong enough to lift him to his full height so she gave up and started dragging him towards the ruins again.

Bakura's shins were leaving two straight lines behind him in the sand. She stopped for a moment to turn around and look at the battle, masked with a high sandy curtain behind her. The desert was shakingand trembling underneath her feet as she walked slowly towards the ruins again. She yelped and quickly bent down when one of the cloaked monsters suddenly whizzed past her and landed on the sand in front of her.

She stared blankly at the still figure and then almost shrieked when the creature suddenly rose again, cloak billowing behind him. She stared helplessly at him with wide eyes, trying to run away from it. It had already seen her and started to advance towards her, but she couldn't leave Bakura behind. She fell down on the sand and covered both of them with her hands until she could hear the creature howl ominously and then one loud scream followed.

"Ishizu!" Tea screamed, carrying a rock in her hands and before the creature managed to turn around, it toppled down, the full size of the rock hitting the insides of his hood. Ishizu raised her head and stared in wonder at a breathless Tea, who stood a few feet away from them now. She blinked in astonishment when she spotted Mai and Serenity, equally armed with rocks and stones. They were all breathing heavily, their facial expressions a mixture of fear and boldness at the same time. It was an awkward moment.

When Tea spotted Bakura, lying motionlessly on the sand, she gasped and quickly dashed towards them. Ishizu already managed to get a grip on herself and started to get up when she let out a gasp and pointed at a cloaked creature, rising slowly again from the ground.

"Tea!" She yelled in panic, making Tea stop in her attempts to pick Bakura on his feet again. She looked at the approaching ogre and stared in fright. She had no more rocks to throw. Only a second after, they were both gawking at Mai and Serenity who were suddenly standing behind the creature, hitting him on the head with their rocks mercilessly.

The monster raised its hands to defend itself but Mai was so mad and angry that she didn't even mind the skeletal fingers trying to grab her by the hair; she smacked the ogre so hard across what she presumed was his face, that its head almost turned for 90 degrees, bones cracked inside the hood and the creature swayed for a moment before it fell limply to the ground with a thud.

Mai was left to stand above him with another rock in her left hand, ready to use it if necessary. She was breathing rapidly, her hair tousled and disheveled but there was undoubtedly a look of satisfaction and victory on her face. Ishizu, together with Tea and Serenity stared at her in disbelief before she straightened and looked at them with a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

"Serves him right!"

Ishizu and Tea exchanged awkward glances before Tea told her to hurry up. Ishizu scolded her a bit for leaving the chamber, but she still thanked her for saving her life. The brown haired just smiled softly at her.

They lifted a still unconscious Bakura together and made a few steps forward, when someone called Tea's name and she quickly turned her head to the right. She was squinting, trying to see someone in the sea of the Jackals and then her lips turned upwards in a genuine smile when she saw Yuugi waving to her from between the two of them.

"Come on," she instructed and Ishizu complied, "that way!"

Mai and Serenity followed close behind, looking around warily for any signs of cloaked creatures.

Yuugi found himself in a bone-crushing hug after the girls reached them. He felt his ribs cracking a bit but he didn't mind. He hugged Tea and Mai back. Mai went so far to hug Joey as well, who blushed slightly despite the situation. Tristan and Serenity helped them with Bakura and they managed to make some room for the thief to lie him down.

Tea knelt down beside him, observing him worriedly. She let out a soft gasp when she saw how many cuts and bruises he had all over his body. He was still breathing, albeit in small, shallow breaths but he was alive and she sniffled, wiping the upcoming tears from her eyes.

"Now what?" Tristan asked them all a stinging question after they all settled in a small circle, surrounded by the Jackals. Kaiba was observing them all keenly, scanning them all one by one.

He exchanged glances with Ishizu, Joey and Yuugi. Ishizu lowered her head and then it finally clicked to the boys that her brother was also here. Never the one to be very tactful, Joey allowed himself to ask about him.

"Is it true? Marik is alive?"

Ishizu raised her head quickly and then glanced aside when she saw the looks they were all giving her. Tea and Mai looked at them in confusion, but Serenity's eyes carried a small spark of acknowledgement.

"Yes, he is," she replied solemnly and wondered where he was at the moment. Joey and Tristan exchanged glances, a few questions already lingering on their lips but Yuugi beat them to it.

"Why is he on Amukh's side?"

Ishizu shook her head quickly and explained what she knew and what he told her before he left.

"He knows where the busts are?!" Everyone asked her incredulously and she nodded slowly, staring at the still body of Bakura and Tea who was hunched over him protectively.

"He said he knew, yes, and..." There she stopped and swallowed, "he went to get them."


Finding the busts was not a hard task to do.

Marik knew the plans and knew exactly where to look. He remembered how Amukh didn't want to take them with him, but left them in the possession of one of the minions. He was supposed to keep the briefcase with the busts inside.

He managed to make his way through the outskirts of the raging battle and managed to avoid a fight with the Jackals and the minions. He spotted one, solitary figure, hovering over the sand behind the whole mess of creatures and approached it carefully.

Since he was still wearing the cloak, the creature didn't suspect a thing and with a satisfied smirk he swung with the sword, ripping the cloak of the creature in the process. It let out a blood-curling scream and fell down, bony fingers unclenching and making the briefcase fall to the sand.

He picked it up quickly, holding the sword in one hand and the briefcase in the other. Ripping his cloak as well, he threw it aside angrily, leaving his old, slightly torn, robes on. He made his way back, determined to redeem himself for everything he did under the Priest's control.

By the other side of the Ruins of the Doomed, Shadi was breathing heavily, clutching his robes with his fingers tightly. Although he knew he was immortal and couldn't be killed anymore, he had to make Amukh believe he was just like him – a reincarnation, a same, old soul resting in a mortal body. And although there was no danger for him, he was still panting a bit, the mental battle making him slightly weary. Amukh was still good at playing games.

The ancient Priest was smirking mockingly at him from the other side, that same malevolent and sadistic smile playing on his lips.

"Tired already, Shadi?" He asked him in a cold, silky voice, dark bangs swaying mildly over a pair of sharp, malicious emerald eyes. The Prophet was tempted to smirk back and tell him that he couldn't do a thing to him in one moment, but decided against it. The time to reveal all the cards hadn't come yet.

He straightened up slowly, fixing his robes a bit and was prepared to endure another set of painful visions in which the Priest would make him relive all those hurtful memories and make him feel the excruciating pain again. He even made him shudder when he was forced to relive the most recent memory in which he was being stabbed by the cloaked creature and left to bleed in the museum.

His mind was strong, but not as strong as the mind of the ancient Priest. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth and was ready to feel a stabbing sensation in his chest when the Priest suddenly turned around and emerald eyes widened drastically, the smirk disappearing from his face.

Shadi stared at the sandy haired Egyptian with a briefcase in his hand, violet eyes blazing with fury and a strong desire for revenge.

Not so far away, Seto Kaiba drew in a sharp breath, making everyone gape at him as his eyes widened as well, and he shuddered for a second, before he spoke in a low voice.

"They're here."